Who Makes The Ladbrokes Golden Easter Egg Final?

It has been two decades since the Golden Easter Egg trophy has headed north across the Queensland border, when the great Bogie Leigh took out the 2004 edition of the race, but the Selena Zammit-trained All Natural has a great opportunity to take another step towards ending the drought at Wentworth Park on Saturday night.

Usually a fast beginner, All Natural bungled the start when second in Quanitifable's 29.78 heat of the Egg back on March 30.

All Natural is unbeaten in two starts from box six, his draw in Saturday night's second semi-final, and Selena's husband Michael Zammit said he wasn't concerned about his dog's wide alley as he hopes to head towards the April 20 Group 1 final.

"The box doesn't matter much, his chances depend on how he jumps,'' Zammit said.

"If he nails the start the way he usually does, he has a great hope because he has terrific early pace and pulled up perfectly after his heat.''

All Natural’s biggest opponent will be Australian Cup winner Tim Zoo who was impressive winning his heat in 29.59 at his Wentworth Park debut.

Jodie and Andy Lord won the Golden Easter Egg with She's A Pearl in 2022 and their dog Nangar Larry looks a certain finalist this year.

Nangar Larry was a desperately unlucky fourth in his heat and from box one in Saturday night's third semi-final appeals as one of the safest bets of the meeting.

Ladbrokes Golden Easter Egg favourite Makenna – a brilliant heat winner in 29.20, the second fastest time ever run at the track - has drawn box 6 in semi-final four and trainer Michelle Sultana believes there is room for improvement on her heat run.

Australia's top stayers Palawa King and Valpolicella should have no trouble reaching the $75,000 to the winner April 20 final of the 720m Farrell's Association Cup after drawing nicely in heats two and three on Saturday.

Palawa King has box six, with a vacant box on his left, in heat two, while Valpolicella will wear the red jacket in heat three.

Palawa King's trainer Jack Smith said: "He might be short of one gallop but I don't think that is going to stop him.''

Smith also has the promising Bella Una set to exit box eight in heat one and while she is untried over 720m she led throughout to beat Palawa King in last month's 605m Country Classic at Dubbo.

"Bella Una is fit enough so if she is going to run a strong 720m she is ready to do it on Saturday night,'' Smith declared. 

Power And Glory's trainer Ken Burnett believes his dog will win Saturday night's Simply Limelight New Sensation at Wentworth Park providing rival Good Odds Cobber "holds his line" when the dogs leave the starting boxes.

Fastest 29.28 heat winner Power And Glory has box seven while Good Odds Cobber, second quickest qualifier with a 29.34 heat success, has drawn eight.

Ken Burnett said: "If Power And Glory had drawn eight instead of seven I would have been extremely confident about him winning.

"He will go in a straight line to the first turn, he never crashes towards the rails.

"Power And Glory's back sections are fantastic and so long as Good Odds Cobber holds his line and doesn't crowd him early I think he will win.

"Since his heat win on April 3 Power And Glory has been absolutely bouncing.''

Power And Glory has drawn box seven once previously, coming from a close second early to win by four lengths in a sizzling 25.82 over 472m at Bulli last month.

That night Power And Glory raced towards the centre of the track indicating his move from box one in his New Sensation heat to box seven in Saturday's final won't worry him.

Good Odds Cobber has won four of his five starts from box eight but three of those wins were at Bulli with his sole Wentworth Park victory wearing the pink rug being in 29.93.

His trainer Frank Hurst said: "I don't think box eight on Saturday is much good, but it is what it is.

"I've never been a fan of having box eight in big finals at Wentworth Park.''

The greyhound Power And Glory and Good Odds Cobber have to beat on Saturday is likely to be Aunt Virginia, trained in Victoria by John Paraskevas.

She staged a remarkable performance in her heat, coming from last to win in 29.80.

Andrew Paraskevas, the trainer's son, said: "I thought she was 'gone' in her heat, greyhounds seldom win coming from so far back against quality opponents.

"She has box four on Saturday and while we don't expect her to lead, hopefully she can come out reasonably well and find a rails run at some stage.''

Best Bet Palawa King (race 2)

Best Value Nangar Larry (race 7)

Race 5 - 3, 2, 4

Race 6 - 6, 3, 2

Race 7 - 1, 4

Race 8 - 6, 4, 2

$20 for 37.03%